Threat list probe continues

Buchanan High School officials, police still not sure if names are hoax.

Buchanan High School officials, police still not sure if names are hoax.

March 10, 2006|CAROL DRAEGER Tribune Staff Writer

BUCHANAN -- Two days after a Buchanan High School student found a note outlining threats against students, police are still looking for the letter's author. "We've been mainly chasing down rumors and have interviewed students," Buchanan Police Chief Bill Marx said. Police talked to 13 students Wednesday and a handful more Thursday, Marx said. The school is offering a $500 reward for information that may lead to the letter writer and his or her motive. Marx also said someone left a note threatening a bomb scare Monday at the high school, a day before the list of names was found. Police are still determining whether the notes are related. Marx and school officials have not released details of either note, but they have confirmed that a number of students were named and there were threats to do them harm. Superintendent David Casey said shortly after the list was found Tuesday morning, school officials called the parents of students named in the letter. School officials also sent a letter home with high school students Tuesday explaining that police were investigating the threat. "We felt it was important to eliminate rumors and to give everyone information," Casey said. He noted that while 99.9 percent of threatening lists are hoaxes because students want to disrupt school, the district must investigate and take warnings seriously. Casey added that when the letter writer is found there will be consequences. "We intend to punish them to the fullest extent of the law. We don't intend to accept this kind of behavior," he said. Staff writer Carol Draeger: cdraeger@sbtinfo.com (269) 687-7005